Firing Schiano Isn't the Answer

Published: Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 8:56 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 8:56 p.m.

TAMPA | No, this wasn't how it was supposed to be this season for the Tampa Bay Bucs.

Remember when training camp started and how excited the area was that football was starting again?

That seemed like another lifetime.

It was a season of high expectations, one in which the team would again not only challenge for the NFC South Division title but make a good run in the playoffs.

Ha.

Now, after a 31-13 dismantling by the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, Tampa Bay is 0-7 and everyone and their aunts have started a Greg Schiano watch (When will he be fired?). Fans are bringing in signs saying "Fire the Coaches." A local radio station paid for a billboard that simply read: "Fire Schiano."

During the fourth quarter, a faint chant of "Fire Schiano" rippled through the sparse crowd.

No one wants to be embarrassed on national television — especially not a franchise that has been in the national news for everything bad this year.

Firing Schiano, however, would be the wrong move, at least at this time.

Yes, the record is what it is. The Bucs remain one of two winless teams in the NFL this season, and have lost 12 of their last 13 games.

MRSA and leaks and quarterback benchings and cries about the defensive scheme aside, what is firing Schiano now going to do for the rest of this season?

Will Dave Wannstedt or Butch Davis or whoever the Glazers get to fill in the void for the rest of the season make a miraculous turnaround?

No.

While it may make a few fans happy, this season was lost as soon as Schiano benched Josh Freeman.

The Bucs need to stay the course for the rest of the season.

Let the players know that jobs are on the line, whether you're the 53rd player on the team or Vincent Jackson, who had another costly drop in the game.

The Bucs need to use these last nine games to determine if Mike Glennon is going to be their quarterback. If you change coaches, you surely can believe the team will draft a quarterback.

Sure, Schiano has made mistakes this season. The whole handling of the Freeman situation was poor. Even on Thursday, the fourth-down attempt from deep in its own territory was not the best decision.

But it showed he hasn't quit.

The team hasn't either. Not yet, at least.

For a team with eight former Pro Bowlers, this team shouldn't be making the same mistakes over and over and over again. The team shouldn't have to emphasize seeing the ball into your hands for receivers or on punts.

The Glazers have spent a lot of money on players in the past two years. They have given this coaching staff all the resources they have wanted, and it hasn't worked.

Firing Schiano now won't make much of a difference, not for this season. But he's on alert.

<p>TAMPA | No, this wasn't how it was supposed to be this season for the Tampa Bay Bucs.</p><p>Remember when training camp started and how excited the area was that football was starting again?</p><p>That seemed like another lifetime.</p><p>It was a season of high expectations, one in which the team would again not only challenge for the NFC South Division title but make a good run in the playoffs.</p><p>Ha.</p><p>Now, after a 31-13 dismantling by the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, Tampa Bay is 0-7 and everyone and their aunts have started a Greg Schiano watch (When will he be fired?). Fans are bringing in signs saying "Fire the Coaches." A local radio station paid for a billboard that simply read: "Fire Schiano." </p><p>During the fourth quarter, a faint chant of "Fire Schiano" rippled through the sparse crowd.</p><p>No one wants to be embarrassed on national television — especially not a franchise that has been in the national news for everything bad this year.</p><p>Firing Schiano, however, would be the wrong move, at least at this time.</p><p>Yes, the record is what it is. The Bucs remain one of two winless teams in the NFL this season, and have lost 12 of their last 13 games.</p><p>MRSA and leaks and quarterback benchings and cries about the defensive scheme aside, what is firing Schiano now going to do for the rest of this season?</p><p>Will Dave Wannstedt or Butch Davis or whoever the Glazers get to fill in the void for the rest of the season make a miraculous turnaround?</p><p>No.</p><p>While it may make a few fans happy, this season was lost as soon as Schiano benched Josh Freeman.</p><p>The Bucs need to stay the course for the rest of the season.</p><p>Let the players know that jobs are on the line, whether you're the 53rd player on the team or Vincent Jackson, who had another costly drop in the game.</p><p>The Bucs need to use these last nine games to determine if Mike Glennon is going to be their quarterback. If you change coaches, you surely can believe the team will draft a quarterback. </p><p>Sure, Schiano has made mistakes this season. The whole handling of the Freeman situation was poor. Even on Thursday, the fourth-down attempt from deep in its own territory was not the best decision.</p><p>But it showed he hasn't quit.</p><p>The team hasn't either. Not yet, at least.</p><p>For a team with eight former Pro Bowlers, this team shouldn't be making the same mistakes over and over and over again. The team shouldn't have to emphasize seeing the ball into your hands for receivers or on punts. </p><p>The Glazers have spent a lot of money on players in the past two years. They have given this coaching staff all the resources they have wanted, and it hasn't worked.</p><p>Firing Schiano now won't make much of a difference, not for this season. But he's on alert.</p>